Myrtle Grove Christian School’s recent move to exclude the gay community is fetching statewide attention. Last night, members of the Raleigh-based gay rights group Equality NC gathered local educators, clergy and public figures together in Wilmington to speak out against the school’s new biblical morality policy, which prohibits students from families that support or participate in a gay lifestyle. WHQR’s Katie O’Reilly reports.

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Myrtle Grove Christian School recently announced its new policy in a letter to parents. Last night’s speakers—including State Representative Susi Hamilton—say they understand such policies are legal in private school. But they object to the fact that under the General Assembly’s new tuition voucher program, public dollars can now be used fund private tuition

"If we’re gonna give public money to people, they have to conform to public ideas. They have to respect the public. That means all of us. So, if they’re going to accept these public dollars, they’re going to have to abide by a different set of rules. Or I don’t believe that this community, or this state or this nation will stand for it."

The director of Equality NC says he’s working to challenge the state's voucher legislation, and that he hopes Senator Thom Goolsby will also stand against it. He adds that marginalizing gay kids puts this at-risk population at increased risk of bullying and suicide. However, the conservative advocacy group, NC Values Coalition, argues that the First Amendment protects Myrtle Grove Christian School’s right to implement a policy excluding gay people.